WHITTLING DOWN THE FIELD

SWING OF THINGS: Whanganui teenager Tara Raj off the tee at the New Zealand Amateur on the Poverty Bay course. Raj ended the hopes of local woman Tessa McDonald 2 and 1 in the round of 16 matchplay yesterday. Picture by Paul Rickard

GOLF

REVENGE served in birdies was the mission for the 2018 New Zealand amateur runner-up at the 2020 tournament on the Poverty Bay course today.

Masterton’s Kerry Mountcastle got rid of 2019 champion Sam Jones on the Awapuni Links yesterday morning, followed by Jonny McKay in the afternoon.

His sights then shifted to the man who denied him glory in 2018.

Mountcastle navigated his way through a 20-hole minefield against Jones (of Taranaki course Manaia) in the round of 32 matchplay then beat McKay (Cromwell) more conventionally, 4 and 2, in the round of 16 to advance to this morning’s quarterfinals.

There he faced Charlie Smail (of Waikato club Walton) in a replay of the 2018 final, which Smail won 5 and 4 over 36 holes.

“You can’t not want to beat someone who has already beaten you,” Mountcastle told NZ Golf after yesterday’s victories. “I hate losing so I’m definitely looking for some revenge.”

Fourteen-year-old Aucklander Joshua Bai was also among the eight players still standing after another glorious Gisborne day, complemented by some stunning play.

Bai upstaged the in-form Kazuma Kobori, who was one of three players to top the 36 holes of strokeplay qualifying at 10-under.

Bai won 4 and 2 to set up a quarterfinal with Hawke’s Bay’s Mako Thompson, who had a tight afternoon battle with Trent Munn (Manawatu) before getting across the line 1-up.

No.1 seed (by lot) Dominic Brettkelly’s tournament was ended on the 18th by teenager Jimmy Zheng (Howick) in the afternoon.

Zheng, who shot a 12-under 60 at the Palmerston North course at the age of 16 in 2018, this morning faced impressive left-hander Tyler Hodge (Gulf Harbour).

Another rising star, Zac May (Russley) came through two tight matches to book a quarterfinal date with the in-form James Hydes (Gulf Harbour), who beat 2018 King of the Coast winner (at Tolaga Bay) James Tauariki (Futures Geyserland) and Kahu Tataurangi, the son of former PGA pro and 1993 New Zealand amateur

champion Phil Tataurangi.

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■ QUARTERFINAL UPDATE: Momoka Kobori defeated Eunseo Choi 4 and 3 in the women’s quarterfinals this morning. Fiona Xu beat Aileen Du 2 and 1, Amy Im beat Vivian Lu 2-up and Tara Raj beat Anna An on the 19th.

In the men’s quarters, Mako Thompson beat Joshua Bai 4 and 3 and Tyler Hodge beat Jimmy Zheng 2 and 1. James Hydes was 3-up after 15 holes against Zac May while Charlie Smail led Kerry Mountcastle 3-up through 15.